German Jews honor non-Jewish Zionist journalist

German Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlaender (2nd R) is congratulated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd L), Chairman of the Foundation Board, former Federal President Christian Wulff (L) and chairman of German news publisher Axel Springer, Mathias Doepfner, after she was awarded with the newly created 'Talisman' prize during a ceremony to celebrate 70th anniversary of the constitutional law (Grundgesetz) on May 14, 2019 in Berlin. (Bernd von Jutrczenka/DPA/AFP)

(JTA) — Germany’s main Jewish organization gave its Leo Baeck Prize to journalist and publisher Mathias Döpfner for his commitment to Israel and German Jewry.

At a time when media and popular sentiment increasingly blame Israel for defending itself, Döpfner steadfastly defends truth, said Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

“You don’t remain silent,” Schuster told Döpfner at a gala dinner May 16 in Berlin. “You don’t try to explain away this hatred for Israel and for us Jews. Or to justify it.”

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